Cyclist Tiernan-Locke gets two-year ban

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Frank Dalleres

TEAM Sky chiefs have pledged to review their recruitment policy after sacking British cyclist Jonathan Tiernan-Locke for incurring a two-year doping ban.

Tiernan-Locke was suspended and had his 2012 Tour of Britain title stripped yesterday by cycling’s world governing body the UCI following a 10-month investigation.

The UCI alerted the Plymouth rider to discrepancies in his biological passport in September. The adverse findings are from 12 months earlier, before he joined Team Sky from Endura Racing, but Sky said in a statement that its screening measures would “continue to be assessed”.

Team boss Sir Dave Brailsford said: “Jonathan’s contract has been terminated today. Whilst there have been no doubts about his time with us, his doping violation – from readings taken before he joined this team – means there’s no place for him in Team Sky. We’ve a well-known stance on anti-doping and our action is the inevitable outcome of a violation. This is a team that trains, races and wins clean.”

Tiernan-Locke’s ban has been backdated, meaning he is free to compete again on 1 January 2016.

Team Sky’s Richie Porte remains second in the Tour de France general classification, meanwhile, after Alexander Kristoff of Katusha won yesterday’s 12th stage.

Italian Vincenzo Nibali retained the yellow jersey and leads Porte by two minutes and 23 seconds as the riders prepare to tackle two gruelling stages in the mountains.